ASK THE CLERGY AN OREGON COUPLE ACCUSED OF USING PRAYER INSTEAD OF MEDICAL CARE TO TRY TO CURE THEIR MORTALLY ILL TODDLER WERE INDICTED LAST MONTH ON MANSLAUGHTHER CHARGES. WHERE DO YOU STAND ON PRAYER AS A TOOL FOR HEALING?Msgr. Peter Nugent St. John Eudes Catholic Church Chatsworth Offering medical assistance through hospitals and clinics is a long-standing practice in Christianity Practice in Christianity (also Training in Christianity) is a work by 19th century philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. It was published on September 27, 1850 under the pseudonym Anti-Climacus, the author of The Sickness Unto Death. , inspired by the care offered by Jesus through his healing ministry to the sick. Prayer for the healing of physical ailments of the body has also been a practice of Christians who believe that the spiritual can have an effect on the physical. Many of us hear of the beneficial results of prayer in the improvement in the health of dear ones. Love and concern move us to help with spiritual and medical care for the sick. These two means are not contradictory of one another. Prayer is an appeal to God for grace and help from above. Yet the benefits of nature applied with human ingenuity are also gifts from the Creator to help in easing the burdens of our life. Love and care for one another make us eager to use what medicine can properly offer. Spiritual power that abides in God and that lives within us is also a real and effective resource in bringing help in our needs. Pastor Paul Viggiano Branch of Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church Torrance Oliver Cromwell was spot-on during his campaign in Ireland instructing his troops, "Put your trust in God; but mind to keep your powder dry." Supernatural intervention has always been an exception, even for the Apostle Paul, who advised his young protege pro·té·gé n. One whose welfare, training, or career is promoted by an influential person. [French, from past participle of protéger, to protect, from Old French, from Latin Timothy to use medicinal wine for his stomach's sake and his "frequent infirmities." We should pray at all times for all things. But if God answers our prayers by providing a good doctor for our child's ailments, we despise his providence by refusing his method -- and a parent can be held criminally negligent in extreme cases. It is the responsibility of the state to protect the innocent. Things done in the name of religion can be heinous hei·nous adj. Grossly wicked or reprehensible; abominable: a heinous crime. [Middle English, from Old French haineus, from haine, hatred, from : In the Old Testament, babies were sacrificed on the grill of Molech Molech (mō`lĕk) or Moloch (mō`lŏk), Canaanite god of fire to whom children were offered in sacrifice; he is also known as an Assyrian god. He is attested as early as the 3d millennium B.C. . For this cause, it is critical to elect legislators who can distinguish between the good things of God and the folly of man. The Rev. Denis Denis, king of Portugal: see Diniz. Letourneau Paul Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach Prayer takes many forms, including requests for divine intervention, and prayers of solidarity and compassion. We benefit when people when people hold us in their thoughts, in a celebration of our connection to one another and the spirit of the universe. When facing a medical crisis, prayer can be a balm balm, name for any balsam resin and for several plants, e.g., the bee balm. balm Any of several fragrant herbs of the mint family, particularly Melissa officinalis (balm gentle, or lemon balm), cultivated in temperate climates for its fragrant to our spirits, as part of a holistic approach holistic approach A term used in alternative health for a philosophical approach to health care, in which the entire Pt is evaluated and treated. See Alternative medicine, Holistic medicine. to healing, in combination with medicine, nutrition and healthful health·ful adj. 1. Conducive to good health; salutary. 2. Healthy. health  ful·ness n. living.
Prayer is not a replacement for medical attention any more than medical attention is a replacement for prayer. Before condemning the parents of Ava Worthington, the young woman who died recently after not receiving medical care, it behooves us to ask more questions. Do we care so much about children whose parents who cannot afford health care or insurance? Are we willing to indict in·dict tr.v. in·dict·ed, in·dict·ing, in·dicts 1. To accuse of wrongdoing; charge: a book that indicts modern values. 2. parents whose lifestyle choices lead to life-threatening obesity or adult diabetes in their children? CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Msgr. Peter Nugent St. John Eudes Catholic Church Chatsworth (2 -- color) Pastor Paul Viggiano Branch of Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church The Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) is a small conservative Presbyterian denomination located primarily in the United States. It was founded by conservative members of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) who revolted against modernist theology during Torrance (3 -- color) The Rev. Denis Letourneau Paul Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach |
|
|||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion